Daily Fantasy Baseball Cheat Sheet for 8/13/16

DFS tips for MLB games on August 13, 2016

TV:

We have a full slate of 15 games today, with playoff implications getting heavier and heavier as each day goes by. Here is my lineup for today's games.

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Pitcher #1: Masahiro Tanaka, NYY

Salary: $9,100

Analysis: Tanaka finally rebounded after getting lit up in his previous two starts before limiting Cleveland to one earned run over 6 innings pitched to get the win in his last outing. Tanaka is facing a Tampa Bay squad that is in the basement of the AL East and is just waiting for the season to be over. Plus Tanaka is the last guy that Tampa wants to see right now. Tanaka is undefeated against the Rays in his career, boasting a 3-0 record in 5 starts with a miniscule 2.12 ERA. With the momentum carrying over from winning A-Rod's final game as a Yankee on Friday night, I think Tanaka guides the Yanks to another W in their seemingly improbable wild-card push considering what New York did at the deadline.

Pitcher #2: Aaron Sanchez, TOR

Salary: $10,400

Analysis: For my other selection on the mound, I'm staying in the AL East. Sanchez has been outstanding for Toronto this season, putting forth an 11-2 record to this point with a 2.85 ERA. Sanchez takes to the bump on Saturday against the visiting Houston Astros, who Sanchez also has an undefeated record against. Granted, it's a 2-0 record over 3 games and only 1 start, but Sanchez has a sparkling 0.82 ERA against Houston with 5 strikeouts. Sanchez may have gotten lit up in his last start against Kansas City, but just like the Royals, Houston has cooled off in a major way and although Houston took the win on Friday, I think Sanchez helps the Jays bounce back, as they can't afford to give up many games down the stretch with the way the division is playing out.

Catcher: Jarrod Saltalamacchia, DET

Salary: $3,100

Analysis: Some of you may be raising your eyebrows at this pick, as Salty has never had a great average and he is going up against the Rangers arguably best pitcher in Cole Hamels. However Saltalamacchia has had career success against Hamels, batting 5-for-19 for a .263 batting average with 2 homers and 3 RBI. However Hamels has gotten 7 strikeouts against Saltalamacchia to counter the offense. With the way Detroit has suddenly come alive all of a sudden, they will be in tough here as Tigers starter Matt Boyd doesn't have the experience that Hamels does, so the Tigers will have to back Boyd early and often and I think they do here, with Saltalamacchia helping the charge.

1st base: Miguel Cabrera, DET

Salary: $4,600

Analysis: The Tigers are going to be a huge part of my lineup as Cabrera is my 2nd of 3 Tigers I have picked for Saturday. Cabrera will also be facing Texas starting pitcher Cole Hamels, and it's safe to say that Hamels is one of the many pitchers that Cabrera has the number of. Cabrera is batting 8-for-15 against Hamels, resulting in a .533 batting average with 4 RBI to his credit to go along with 6 walks while only striking out twice. Cabrera is proving he is still among the elite power bats in the league, with 7 homers in his last 13 games to go along with his season .308 batting average, and on Saturday I think Miguel Cabrera adds to his totals with a couple hits and RBI to help boost the Tigers.

2nd Base: Josh Harrison, PIT

Salary: $2,900

Analysis: Once again, second base was the last position I filled in my lineup, leaving me little cap to play with but I decided to take another flyer on Josh Harrison on Saturday as it paid off for me last time. Harrison has never faced off against Dodgers starter Brandon McCarthy, however against the Dodgers as a team, Harrison is batting a decent .254 with a homer and 8 RBI and only 9 strikeouts. I'm not setting high expectations for Harrison Saturday, because the last time i didn't he went 2-for-4 against San Diego and got me 12 points unexpectedly so I'm hoping for more of the same here.

3rd base: Josh Donaldson, TOR

Salary: $5,100

Analysis: Donaldson was my pick for 3rd base right out of the gate. Collin Mchugh is opposing Donaldson's Blue Jays on Saturday when he takes the mound for the Astros, as for the last couple years, Mchugh on the road has been auto-fade material. Donaldson is one of the guys that has feasted on Mchugh the most, going 4-for-11 against Mchugh, with 2 solo home runs to JD's credit. The reigning AL MVP won't match his numbers from last season, but I do think he comes out strong against the Astros knowing that the Blue Jays need a strong performance from Donaldson and the rest of the team if they want to win the division for a second consecutive season.

Shortstop: Zack Cozart, CIN

Salary: $3,500

Analysis: There isn't any particular batter vs. pitcher success stat here, this was more of shortstop being my second last position picked so I had to weigh my options remaining and Cozart seemed like the best of the bunch. The Reds as pretty much done this season but Cozart is one of the Reds who's out to continue to play well in an effort to boost his value no matter how the team is doing. Cozart may have gone hitless last game against the Cardinals, but in the two games prior to that, he was 5-for-10 with back-to-back multi hit games and a combined 29 fantasy points. I think Cozart can build on his recent form against an on and off Milwaukee squad on Saturday.

Outfielder #1: Ichiro Suzuki, MIA

Salary: $4,400

Analysis: This is a higher price tag than I'm used to paying for with Ichiro, but after digging into it a bit I understand why. Suzuki's Marlins take on the sliding White Sox on Saturday, who are sending James Shields to the mound. Shields has been a trainwreck for most of his time with the White Sox so far, putting out a horrendous 6.68 ERA and 1.68 WHIP over his 12 starts. Suzuki is foaming at the mouth to face Shields, as if it wasn't bad enough that Shields is in a downward spiral, Suzuki has had some success against Shields, batting .310 over 58 career at-bats, with a home run to his credit. Since getting his 3,000th hit, Ichrio has maintained his hot bat, and hopefully for us it can continue for another night. Against Shields? I think it might.

Outfielder #2: Justin Upton, DET

Salary: $3,200

Analysis: My 3rd of 3 Tigers on my squad Saturday, Upton is yet another Detroit bat who has had past success against Texas starter Cole Hamels. Upton has batted Hamels to the tune of a .289 batting average with 4 doubles and a home run. Upton isn't always the go-to in the Detroit lineup but in this case I'm thinking he may be a major sleeper and a difference maker if few owners have Upton on their team Saturday.

Outfielder #3: Michael Saunders, TOR

Salary: $3,600

Analysis: I just realized that I have another trio on my fantasy lineup, with Saunders being my 3rd of 3 Blue Jays I have going Saturday. Saunders has a little bit more experience against Houston starter Collin Mchugh because of his brief time spent with the Mariners in Seattle, a division rival of Houston. Saunders is 5-for-15 for a .333 batting average with 2 HR and 5 RBI lifetime against Mchugh. On Saturday, I'm thinking that Captain Canada helps the Jays to another win, grabbing us owners a few fantasy points in the process, especially if he keeps swinging the bat the way he has been as of late.

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